The sound from the flute echoed throughout the filthy, unkempt streets. There was evidence of poverty and there wasn't any sign of life or fun. The darkness was overwhelming, a place unfortunate enough to barely receive sunlight. 

It was quiet on normal days, but not today. A group of men were soaring through the underground city. The same thugs had been up to another heist and were once again being chased but this time around it wasn't up to the military police to deal with them. Levi was once again using the ODM gear considering he was a master at it and unable to be caught. He looked further ahead. The symbol on their cloak - the wings of freedom. That could only mean on thing. The Scout regiment were the ones after them. The man they had encountered at the surface had told them they couldn't stay out of this method whether or not they took the job. And it was just as he said. The target was among them chasing after them. This whole situation only angered Levi and he was determined not to give up. The three, Isabel, Farlan and Levi himself successfully made their way through the slums of the underground beneath the royal capital.

Refusing to be caught, they split up. However, despite the complicated navigating by Levi, Erwin Smith and Mike Zachrias manage to track him down. It became a struggle to escape the two men for Levi and during that, Erwin had cut one of his cables, stopping him from fleeing from their grasp. He had been caught for the first time in his life ever since he began his heists. And unlike usual, surrendered upon seeing the two people he had cared about the most after his mother's death, apprehended. 

'How did you get your hands on the ODM gears? And how are you so skilled at it?', Erwin questioned on to receive a glare from Levi as a response. He was quiet leading Mike to roughly interrogate him, hitting his head mercilessly in the puddle located in front of Levi. Upon seeing this, Isabel and Farlan jumped in, "We were self-taught!'. From the floor, Mike's hands still pressed on his head, Levi could only give a piercing glare. His head was lifted as the muddy water dripped down his face slowly.

"My name is Erwin Smith. And yours?" 

"Levi."

"Levi? Why don't we make a deal?"

 "A deal?"

"Your crimes will go unpunished. But in return... Lend me your strength and join the survey corps" 

All three were taken aback. Joining the survey corps was a chance in the outside world. And it wasn't a chance to be missed. It was yes or no forever 

"And if i refuse?", Levi questioned. 

"The military police can have you and considering what you've done", Erwin smiled standing up "you and your friends will be highly mistreated. Choose as you will" 

 "Fine.", Levi stood up spitting out every bit of mud water "I'll join the survey corps" A sly smile spread across Erwin's face. Whatever it was Erwin had planned would not go well... 

***************

"PUT YOUR BACKS INTO IT BRATS! I SEE YOU ALL GETTING EATEN BY THOSE DAMN TITANS WITH HOW MUCH WORK YOU'RE DOING!" It was a miserable weather and the muddy floor was not the best environment for training. 

"Goddammit, Eren. The nape of a titan is where you're aiming for. You'll get your limbs snapped even before having your first kill"

"LEVI!", a brunette was now running up to the still short man from a few years ago. He had lost Isabel and Farlan to an abnormal titan, causing him to really join the survey corps. And without regrets. Settling in wasn't helpful. Everyone was weird. Even the brunette with hazel brown eyes. Barely had a shower and had to be looked after by the man that treats her like a child, Moblit.

"How's training going? Erwin is preparing for us to set off for another expedition. Haven't had one in a while, it's sort of... EXHILIRATING!"

"What do you want, four eyes?"

"I came to tell you I found out more about the titans. For one, they don't have a digestive system. Makes me wonder where humans go when they're eaten since they can't be digested. Must be a really slow death"

 "Tch, you're making me lose my appetite"

 "And I'm still doing more research on them. Hopefully we can capture a titan alive this time. That'll be really great for my experiments"

"Anything else?" 

 "Nope just that" 

 Levi sighed, "Let's call it a day"

Levi didn't know how to describe the section commander, Hange Zoe. She was loud, insane, a titan freak dirty, too tall for his liking and all sort. But she was also the very first person to come up Levi and treat him like an equal. Knowing he was from the underground and wasn't treated nicely by everyone else, she was happy to take him in as a member of a survey corps. She had treated him to lunch and consoled him after the loss of Isabel and Farlan. And although he didn't show how he felt, he was deeply grateful for her presence. 

It was how they began.